National Republican., 1887-02-02
A Woman on the Labor Movement.

Last week numerous meetings were held
in this city for the purpose Of advancing
in Congress and elsewhere, by every iegiti-
mate means, the movement for admitting
women to the political franchise. Associ
ated with such special efforts were kin
dred societies for the advocacy OF temper
ance, social purity, and "Help and Hope"
mission work.
Those meetings, though well attended,
did not attract as much attention in the
newspapers or in general society as they
deserved. They represented principles and
influences which arc of far more importance
to the permanent interests Of American
society than all the causes which were agi-
tated during the same period in the halls Of
Congress, the chamber of the Supreme
Court, or in all the conventlons-trade,
professional, or political-put together. II
the objects aimed at by the different organ
izations Of women assembled In this city
last week were likely to be realized In any
degree within a reasonable time, some Of
us might hope to see the day when the
work of Congress and the Supreme Court
would be much lighter than it is at present.
1t is possible that the earnest women who
spoke and wrote and generally agitated
may not be able to make people temperate
and well balanced as rapidly as ''anxious
parents could desire,n but a most satisfac-
tory beginning has been made when con-
siderable number of women have gone to
the trouble Of informing themselves thor
oughly on great public questions, of con-
densiDg this knowledge into the fewest
words, the most direct expression, and the
strongest logic. 1t is only necessary to
compare the debate on woman suffrage In
the Senate with the speeches made by a
number Of ladies at the convention to see
the vast superiority Of the women's
speeches, both in form and matter.
Among the ladies interested In such ques-
tions there is one whose opinions and state
ments deserve special attention. Miss
Frances L. Willard has been and is asso-
ciated with SO many great movements that
no apology is required for introducing here
some of her opinions upon subject which
is not popular just at present among men,
bers of the wealthy classes.
Taking Mr.. Pcwderly as representing the
forces of labor, let us see what Miss Willard
has to say about him, and afterward we can
find what she thinks about the famous
order whose deliberations he directs.
Speaking on the subject of purity for
men, she stated her belief that America had
advanced farther In the doctrine than any
other country. 81 have had a conference
with Mr.. Powderly In Chicago said Miss
| Nu1ard topd ehnwa1 him tho p1aIua form
Of the White Gross. After reading 1t and
consulting with his colleagues, he told me
that II he were provided with $4,000 copies
they should be placed in ninety-two labor
organizations OF this country for distribu-
tion, and this has been done.n
1t would be interesting TO know how
many congressman have taken similar in
terest in this movement, or, indeed, how
many men Of any class outside that OF labor
have taken any thought upon the subject.
An article recently published by Mis-
Willard contains 30 many valuable ant
hopeful suggestions about labor that 1t ia
duty to present them as in some sort an of
set to the strikes, boycotts, and other dis
agreeable aspects Of movement which, oil
the whole, is being conducted In this coun
try with such marked moderation. eth
labor question: writes Miss Willard
"means more than the temperance and tn
woman questions combined, for IL include
them both. Labor can only master th,
situation when II masters itself, and tina
means the personal boycott of the saloon
I.aborers comprise threefourths Of the race
hence their elevation includes that OF wo
men, who are only half the race. Woman
and the workingman have always been a
the foot Of the ladder. Side by side the.
are now toiling to the top.
"When / read that the workingmen II
their congress assembled cheered to tn
echo Terence V, Powderly and his lieuten
ants as, upon being reelected, they took th
vow of total abstinence, see blessing
coming to us through the labor movement
When read that the Central Labor Unioi
of New York city petitioned the municlpa
authorities to close the saloons on the Sab